- Government plans to weaken green policies;
- Pushing back the ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and phasing out gas boilers could be part of the decision;
- The REA stresses that the UK cannot afford to abandon promises on energy security and affordable energy transition.
The REA (Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology) responds to speculation that the Government will water down some of their key green policies. This could include delaying the ban on the sales of new petrol and diesel cars and phasing out gas boilers. The Prime Minister is expected to address the changes in the coming days.
The decision to delay the ban on the sales of new petrol and diesel cars as well as the phasing out of gas boilers will only mean more dependence on expensive fossil fuels. It would also risk undermining the investments that have gone into renewable technologies, following the Government’s previous commitment to have strong markets in place by the 2030s. Reducing recycling infrastructure and ambitions would be equally worrying, since this overlooked sector is not only essential to Net Zero, but also an opportunity for business growth.
The REA reiterates that weakening green policies will make the energy transition more expensive and the UK cannot afford to abandon existing promises if the Prime Minister is serious about energy security and ensuring an affordable energy transition.
Dr Nina Skorupska CBE, Chief Executive of the REA (Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology) said:
“Any rolling back on existing net zero commitments is not the smart economic choice for the country. It is short term policy making that guarantees more expensive bills for us all in the future.
“If confirmed, delays to both the ban on the sales of new petrol and diesel cars and the phasing out of gas boilers will extend the countries’ reliance on expensive fossil fuels. It also risks undermining the millions of pounds of investments that have already been made based on the understanding that Government is committed to seeing strong markets for EVs, heat pumps, biomass boilers, and other renewable technologies, in place by the 2030s. A reversal of these targets damages the opportunities these sectors are set to provide to the UK, both in terms of growth and jobs, while making the overall energy transition more expensive.
“Any rollback on recycling infrastructure and ambitions would be equally worrying, as this sometimes overlooked sector is not only critical to Net Zero but also represents a considerable business opportunity as we recover resources for added value creation.
“Last year, the Net Zero Review was clear. The energy transition is the ‘economic opportunity of the 21st century’. Other countries are pursuing this at pace by putting in place generous support packages, as demonstrated by US Inflation Reduction Act. The UK cannot afford to look like it is exiting this race. If the Prime Minister is serious about energy security and ensuring an affordable energy transition, then he must not abandon these existing promises.”
—ENDS—